Rechargeable aerosol applicator and cleaning implement



Jan. 20, 1970 w. D. WILLIAMS ETAL 3,490,657

RECHARGEABLE AEROSOL APPLICATOR AND CLEANING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 26,1967 United States Patent 3,490,657 RECHARGEABLE AEROSOL APPLICATOR ANDCLEANING IMPLEMENT William Dale Williams, Mahwah, and Ned Hyde Neal,Waldwick, N.J., assignors to Sterling Drug Inc., New York, N.Y., acorporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 670,627 Int. Cl.865d 83/14; B65b 31/00; A46b 11/02 US. Cl. 222-399 8 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A device including an elongated housing in one portion ofwhich is a substantially permanent pressure container with aerosolvalves at both ends thereof. A valve at one end is used for transferringa product, e.g. for cleaning, from an extraneous pressurized containeroutside the device into the pressure container inside the device. Theother valve is used for transferring the product from the interiorpressure container to a plastic tube in another portion of the housingfor expression at the point of use, e.g. cleaning, where a mop may beprovided to distribute the material on the surface to be processed, e.g.cleaned.

This invention relates to a new and improved rechargeable aerosolproducts applicator and cleaning implement, and the principal object ofthe invention resides in the provision of an elongated tubular handlemember in one end of which is contained in substantially permanentrelationship therein a pressure container for an aerosol cleaningapplicator or the like, such container having an exterior valve foraccepting a recharge of similar material from an extraneous pressurecontainer and there being a valve at the opposite end actuated from theoutside of the handle member for releasing the pressurized cleaningmaterial therein through an elongated plastic tube to a point of exitwhich may be provided with a mop or the like for distributing thecleaning material on a surface to be cleaned.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the device;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough, and

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

In describing the present invention, it is emphasized that it comprisesa generally unitary single elongated housing which acts as a handle andthis may be of any suitable material such as a commercial plastic. Thishandle comprises a generally tubular portion at which may be of anydesired configuration, and integral therewith there is a graduallynarrowing or conical portion 12 at the end of which there is provided amop or some means for distributing cleaning material. The entire casing10 and 12 is used as a handle for the manipulation of the mop and toprovide the cleaning material under pressure at a product exit indicatedat 16 adjacent the center position of the mop which may be held inposition by any convenient means.

The portion of the device at 10 contains substantially permanentlytherein a pressure container 20 which is provided with a one-way actingrecharging valve which is generally indicated at 22. Such valves arewell known and may include a tube serving to accept the usual retractivestem 24 of an extraneous pressure container generally indicated at 26.When the stem 24 is applied to the one-way valve 22 and actuated in theusual manner, the material in the container 26 under pressure is3,490,657 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 discharged into the pressure container20 and refills the same ready for use. The one-way valve 22 prevents thematerial under pressure in presscure cylinder 20 from escaping in thisdirection, and as a practical matter may be in the form of an ordinaryaerosol stem-type valve.

At the opposite end of container 20 there is a valve stem 28 which maybe, e.g. tilt actuated, if desired. This type of valve is also wellknown in the art and in the present case is actuated by a finger orthumb button 30 located in a generally radial direction in the housingadjacent the juncture between the housing 10 and the conical portionthereof at 12. It will be clear that by pressing inwardly as forinstance against spring or pressure means as is well known in the art,the stem 28 is activated to open so as to discharge pressurized materialin the container 20 into the elongated plastic tube 32, the latterextending the length of the conical member 12.

The tube 32 may be held in position within the member 12 in any desiredmanner but in any event it receives the material under pressure fromcontainer 20 and delivers it to the exit opening at 16 in the area ofthe mop 14.

It is believed that the use and operation of this device Will be clear.The user merely grasps the housing 10 for instance in one hand andapplying the mop where desired to clean a surface, depresses the button20, tilting stem 28, causing material under pressure in container 20 totravel along the interior of tube 32 to the exit point 16. The device islong enough to be used by both hands if this should be desired or it canbe used as a one-handed device also.

When the material in the container is exhausted, it is merely necessaryto apply the device to the stem 24 of the container 26 and this lattercontainer may be of large form, the cleaning device above describedbeing brought to it, or the container 26 may be made portable andmanipulated as desired in order to recharge the device.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we donot wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise thanas set forth in the claims, but what we claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a substantially rigidelongated hollow handle member including two generally aligned connectedportions both of which are elongated, one of said portions containing apressure container, the pressure container having an inlet valve at oneend and an outlet valve at the other end, the inlet valve being locatedat an end of the hollow handle member, the outlet valve being locatedintermediate the ends thereof, the second portion of the handle memberbeing an extension of the first-named portion and having an end tip, anelongated tube extending through the second portion of the housing fromthe outlet valve to an exit opening adjacent the end tip, and means tooperate the outlet valve to let pressurized material out of the pressurecontainer into the tube, so that it exits at the opening, the inletvalve providing for recharging the pressure container, the outlet valveoperating means being located intermediate the ends of the hollow handlemember at the ;ilt actuated valve and including a button for actuating:he tilt valve, said button extending to the exterior of the handlemember.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the outlet valve is a tilt actuatedvalve and including a button for actuating the tilt valve, said buttonextending to the exterior of the handle member adjacent the area wherethe two handle portions join.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the portion of the handle that containsthe pressure container is open at the end thereof opposite thesecond-named handle portion and provides ready access to the inletvalve, and including an extraneous pressure container for application tothe inlet valve to resupply the same.

7. The device of claim 6 including an aerosol valve on the extraneouspressure container, the inlet valve accepting it for the resupplyingaction.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the elongated second portion of thehollow handle member tapers down from the area of the outlet valve tothe area of the end tip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,021,850 2/1962 Smith et al.222-402.12 X 3,181,737 5/1965 Chaucer 141-20 X 3,228,057 1/1966 Parrish401-190 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner N. L. STACK, In, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R. l4l-20; 401190

